Over the past decades, broadband Internet access has been an important enabler of economic growth, social inclusion and improved government services. Now, the latest phase of the Internet—the Internet of Everything (IoE)—is transforming our lives in whole new ways. The biggest impact of this change is happening in our cities.

At this year’s Cisco Live in San Francisco, there was a lot of discussion around the idea of digital cities. New ideas that combine smart phones, cloud applications, data processes with whole new classes of connected devices are reinventing city services and experiences. This is the Internet of Everything in action: transforming every aspect of a city, from utilities to public safety to transportation.

There are many examples today. The city of Santander in Spain has installed sensors to monitor traffic levels, noise pollution and lighting levels. Santander’s smart parking application has yielded an 80 percent reduction in downtown traffic congestion! Cities around the world are using the Internet of Everything to reinvigorate urban centers just like the one in Santander, which can adapt to residents’ needs in real time. These cities are discovering new opportunities for energy efficiency and seeing immediate returns on investments.

Another IoE twist is the Los Angeles police department project using data analytics to more rapidly spot crime in progress, via license plate readers on police cars. These readers, which are in use as officers conduct normal business, digitally scan tens of thousands of vehicles over the course of a single day. This means automatic notification of stolen vehicles to officers as they drive past on their routine patrol.

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Want to hear more? Cisco has teamed up with CNN to explore digital cities around the globe, just like Santander and L.A. The CNN “City of Tomorrow” looks at how cities are utilizing technology to improve our lives, diving into unique case studies with results happening today. Weekly editorials on CNN broadcast television and the City of Tomorrow hub showcase IoE examples happening around the world. Just as L.A. becomes a safer place to live, San Diego is able to increase the amount of available drinking water, and Seattle has created a completely green commercial building that leaves no carbon footprint. These are only a few examples of IoE in action; there are many more on the horizon. And you can learn about them all in this eight-week City of Tomorrow series.

What you might not have realized is that the Internet of Everything is changing things in your city, too. How are you using the Internet of Everything today?

We want to know what examples of the Internet of Everything you see in your own City of Tomorrow – your neighborhood! Join the conversation online by tagging your photo and video examples with #InternetofEverything and #CityofTomorrow. How is the Internet of Everything changing your city?

Today, at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York City, Cisco Chairman and CEO John Chambers joined Goldman Sachs CEO and Chairman Lloyd Blankfein and Dow Chemical Company President, Chairman and CEO Andrew Liveris on a panel discussion moderated by CNN’s Fareed Zakaria. The title of the panel was “Business by Design: Growth and Opportunity.” (An edited portion of the panel will air on CNN soon…watch this space for the air date).

Zakaria said that he was an optimist overall when it came to the United States and our prospects for the future. He spoke about the economic troubles the U.S. has had over the past decades and how we have consistently overcome them. The trouble with this recovery and economy, he said, is that it is taking jobs a lot longer to come back than what has been historically ordinary.

All of the speakers agreed (generally) that there was optimism to be had in the United States economy, regardless of who is elected President in November. All of them also agreed that government and business have to partner together to help solve our nation’s problems and take advantage of our many assets. Blankfein said that many of our problems are self-inflicted and could easily be resolved, such as having a budget for the country.

With all its surges and surprises, the battle for the 2012 GOP Presidential nomination has become one of the hottest political stories in many years. Up next: One of the biggest days of this election cycle, March 6, or “Super Tuesday,” when more than 300 delegates from 10 states will be up for grabs.

On March 6 CNN.com will be hosting the first in a series of live Election Roundtables using Cisco WebEx technology. This insider chat with Wolf Blitzer and a panel of political experts gives CNN.com users a chance to go behind the scenes and get the insider take on this year’s presidential election.

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March 6 Super Tuesday Web-only panel uses WebEx to showcase top CNN political analysts in a real-time “virtual” roundtable.

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